Very grateful January 20th for the non-governmental Alewife Symposium Conference at Tufts University, sponsored by Earthos Institute, Tufts Environmental Department, and Sustainable Arlington, all of which widened the climate change discussion to regional thinking, surrounding the need for greater urban open space, green design and natural systems planning around the Alewife T. This geographical area is based on hydrology which includes the Quadrangle, Triangle and Alewife Reservation including the Upper Alewife Basin waterways of 1 mile Little River with ponds and streams of the Mystic River watershed.

Nine workshops included 3 to 4 panelist specialists represented many environmental needs of the entire "Alewife Corridor" that runs from Winchester through Arlington, Cambridge, Belmont, Somerville, and Medford to the Mystic River. The event presented a municipal urgency for regional planning and protections triggered greatly by the rapidity of global warming.

The 150 plus attendees heard hydrologists, green design planners, on site non-profit environmentalists, Conservation activists and Conservation Commissioners and municipal engineers, several of whom are employed in Cambridge. Four city councilors attended.The keynote, former Assoc. Professor at Harvard's Design School, Robert France, key noted the Conference with his previous endeavors, helping design the Alewife Reservation's storm water wetland with published books on environmental conservation at Alewife and chapters highlighting climate solutions from his work throughout the world. He presently teaches Environmental Studies at Dalhousie University, Nova Scotia.

Biodiversity specialists representatives encouraged development of nature’s highly valued "environmental services" for urban planning such as carbon sequestration, mitigation of storm water contamination, swale development, "green lighting" and green building designs, by extending the Reservation's storm water wetland to south side of the commuter rail in the Quadrangle.

The
Alewife Reservation
is a unique natural resource for the communities of Belmont, Arlington and Cambridge
and home to hundreds of species, including hawks, coyotes beavers, snapping turtles, wild turkeys and muskrats,
the reservation is a unique natural resource for the community. Historical information (Powerpoint)

Friends of Alewife Reservation
works to protect and restore this wild area and the surrounding area for the water quality, native plants, animals and
over 90 bird species with paths for walking, running and biking, recreation, and for classroom education and research.
We regularly steward and preserve the Reservation area for wildlife and for the enjoyment of present and future generations.

Biodiversity Study of Alewife Reservation Area: Species, Habitat, Ecosystems
Inventories by David Brown, wildlife assessor (2003, 2004.) Published by and available from FAR for $10. Write or call for your copy.
(sample)